Q: What kind of wood finish should I use on my deck?
A: When it comes to staining your deck, choosing the right wood stain color is only half the battle. It is also extremely important to understand what type of wood finish you want your deck to have before you just pick a deck stain color. Depending on the type of finish you choose, your wood will either be visible, along with the color you choose, or the color will appear opaque, almost like an exterior paint. Use this quick primer to understand what each type of wood finish can do for your wood.
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Naturally Beautiful
Clear Sealants
If your wood is in good condition, clear sealants are a great choice for homeowners that really want their wood grain to be visible and are not really looking to add much color to the appearance of their deck.
Clear sealants merely seal and coat the wood, allowing its natural beauty to shine through.
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A Touch of Color
Toner Wood Stains
Toners are similar to clear sealants in that they allow the grain of the wood to show through, however they also add a touch of color that can really change the appearance of your deck.
Toner wood stains are a good choice if you are unhappy with the original color of your decking material, but still want the aesthetic of the wood grain on the surface.
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Great Color Choices
Semi-Transparent Stains
Semi-transparent wood finishes really make a jump into the realm of color compared to toners and clear sealants. They provide great protection for your wood, but allow you to change the appearance of your deck drastically, depending on the tone of color you choose.
With so many different shades available semi-transparent stains are great for homeowners who want to display the quality of their wood, but also love color.
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Subtle, Rich Color
Semi-Solid Stains
Semi-solid stains provide the same subtle, yet rich color as a semi-transparent stain, but hide some of the wood grain while allowing the texture to show. They provide more hide for wood with imperfections.
Semi-solid stains are only available in Olympic® ELITE Advanced Stain & Sealant in One and can tint to 14 wood-inspired colors.
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Fresh, Colorful Appearance
Solid Wood Stains
Solid wood stains are perfect for homeowners that may not love the quality or appearance of the wood they have used to build their deck, but want a fresh colorful appearance that is inviting and appealing and adds a lot of curb appeal.
If you want to give an older deck a fresh appearance, solid wood stains are great, especially for decks that receive a lot of foot traffic, or if you just want to add a brighter color to a your home's exterior.
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